Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times - Chapter 67
Jing Xingzhi, engrossed in reading a book, suddenly found a dog’s head poking through the curtain, rubbing against his leg.
“Woof~ woof~,” the dog’s bark was much gentler, sounding almost coquettish.
Jing Xingzhi was surprised as to why the government office’s dog had approached. He reached down to pat the black dog’s head and leaned out to inquire with Wang Zhuang.
Jing Xingzhi couldn’t help but laugh when he learned that the dog had stealthily hidden himself.
Having been away for quite a while, going back to return the dog might cause them to miss the boat. On the other hand, leaving the dog behind felt like absconding with someone else’s pet.
Jing Xingzhi instructed, “Brother Zhuang, please quickly send someone with a message. Ask them to take the dog back. This dog will be helpful when searching for things during case investigations. It’s no ordinary dog and not easy to part with.”
Upon hearing this, the dog seemed to express disdain, whimpering and flopping onto Jing Xingzhi. It was indeed a hefty fifty-pound baby.
Jing Xingzhi playfully slapped its large rear, “Get up, you haven’t taken a shower!”
Wang Zhuang chuckled at the commotion and rode back on his horse.
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When Wang Zhuang returned, there was no one or horse behind him.
He knocked on the window frame of Jing Xingzhi’s carriage, “Young Master Jing, this black dog recently sired five puppies with someone else’s female dog. The government office says if you like it, you can take it! This dog has been a bit unruly lately; it won’t work without some tasty treats!”
Now, Jing Xingzhi’s luggage included a sizable, glossy black dog.
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Upon arriving at the academy’s entrance, the big black dog, who had been restrained and bathed by Jing Xingzhi, leaped out of the carriage, barking curiously as if wondering about this new place.
Fang Yaojun was startled and retreated behind Fang Qichen. Then, seemingly recalling something, she pulled Liu Fang closer to her side.
Fang Qichen, blocking the front, chuckled, “This dog has clear eyes and came out of a carriage. It won’t bite.”
As they conversed, Jing Xingzhi emerged from the carriage and approached the old man for a hug.
“I heard you’ve grown tired of those new dishes lately and lost your appetite.”
Fang Qichen: “…”
Fang Qichen twitched his beard and retracted his outstretched arm. Indeed, he was still the familiar little disciple and the pesky housekeeper.
After embracing Fang Qichen, Jing Xingzhi playfully tugged on the old man’s twitching beard again. Only when Fang Qichen’s eyes widened did Jing Xingzhi release him, taking Liu Fang’s hand and engaging in cheerful conversation with Liu Fang and his junior sister.
Fang Yaojun joyfully announced the good news, her face beaming like a blooming flower, “Senior Brother, Fang Ge’er is expecting a baby!”
Jing Xingzhi turned his gaze toward Liu Fang, who coincidentally looked back at him.
They were already aware.
However, this revelation did not dampen the joyful atmosphere. Jing Xingzhi led the group inside, listening to the little sister’s chatter about recent fun events and hearing Liu Fang’s updates, all fatigue dissipating as his steps quickened.
Yet, as he walked, Jing Xingzhi sensed something amiss.
He turned his head: “It seems we’ve forgotten the teacher.”
Fang Qichen stood by the carriage, expressing irritation, “I will watch them moving things; you smell bad, go back and take a shower!”
Jing Xingzhi, just done running around on the road, Liu Fang was pregnant, and Fang Yaojun was a young girl, Fang Qichen thought to himself only he could bear this burden. Regarding being forgotten, he wasn’t angry at all; at most, he would focus on his disciple’s studies so as not to let the month and a half away be in vain.
Fang Yaojun looked at the hands held by his senior brother and Fang Ge’er with a smile, and knowingly said, “I’ll stay and look after Daddy. Senior brother, you and Fang Ge’er should go back first!”
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After leaving the luggage and the old and the young behind, Jing Xingzhi smiled and leaned into Liu Fang’s ear, saying, “It’s a world between the two of us!”
Liu Fang subconsciously looked at his stomach, and Jing Xingzhi followed his gaze, saying with a smile, “Right! It’s a three now!”
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While there was ordinary joy here, people elsewhere weren’t very happy.
Just like Ning Yongyuan, for example. He knew the dandies of the Qu family were collectively imprisoned, even Qu Weiping was confined at home.
The reason for the confinement was the Qu family offended someone in Hannan Prefecture, their hometown, and the clan felt that these individuals should be properly confined, so they dealt with them accordingly.
Before being put into solitary confinement, Qu Weiping found out that Qu Yongzhi had been beaten, realizing that things had gone awry for Qu Yongzhi. But because Qu Yongzhi didn’t expose him, he refrained from sending a letter of reprimand to Qu Yongzhi.
However, Qu Weiping did send a letter to Ning Yongyuan.
The letter read: [Little Marquis, you’ve fooled me badly! That person is no small figure. My Qu family has suffered a major loss!]
Simultaneously, Qu Weiping frantically emphasized, [Little Marquis, when will you bring me some benefits to calm my mind?]
Thinking of Qu Weiping’s letter, Ning Yongyuan became furious, his temper even more volatile. He lashed out at several servants at home.
Even when things went wrong, he still seeked benefits from him. Jing Xingzhi, who had left Huanshui County, could directly ruin people just by seeking out random individuals!
“A straw bag is still a straw bag after all! You want to burn me to death!”
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Almost a month later, Ning Yongyuan was still seething when he thought of this incident. He threw the hot tea in his hand, pointed at the servant, and scolded them.
The servant knelt on the ground tremblingly, banging his head on the ground, “I was wrong, I know I was wrong. I’ll bring you another drink now!”
“Humph, there’s no next drink. Get out of the Marquis Mansion!” Ning Yongyuan kicked the man in the face, releasing the pent-up frustration within him.
The provincial examination was nearing, and with spring approaching, Ning Yongyuan felt a sense of panic, especially considering the person’s teacher.
Ning Yongyuan’s irritable behavior caught Wu Shuangxi’s attention, but she couldn’t fathom the reasons behind his temper.
No matter how strict she was in the household, she couldn’t control the people close to her son. Those were the knowledgeable individuals arranged by Ning Haibo, and their loyalty was to Ning Yongyuan, the heir.
At this juncture, Qu Weiping’s one-month seclusion had come to an end. Clad in a purple robe, he strolled towards the Marquis Zhenyuan’s Mansion. Instructing his servants, he passed a message to the concierge, expressing his desire to meet the little marquis.
The servant delivered the message, and Ning Yongyuan who had a grim expression, glanced at the bookshelf in his room, sneering, “Let him in.”